A dashing, strokeplaying right-handed opener, Hiral Patel is one of Canada's rising stars and shot to prominence when his 61-ball unbeaten 88 set up a tight four-run win over a favoured Ireland during the Sri Lanka Associates T20 series in February 2010. It was the sort of innings he had put together more than once for the Under-19 side, and it was only a matter of time before Patel was given more chances with the senior national XI.

Making his one-day international debut against Kenya at King City in July 2009, Patel initially struggled, and when he was shunted up and down the order during the World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dubai in early 2010, he failed to find fluency. He put together a better run of scores when he returned to the opening slot at the World Cricket League Division One tournament in Netherlands in 2010, and Canada finished fifth overall. Still a young man, he could well have a bright cricketing future ahead of him.Liam Brickhill August 2010